Word origins

• a prioriSelf-evident, intuitively obvious.
• aquamanileA ewer or jug-like vessel, shaped like an animal or human figure, used for washing the hands.
• aqua vitaeAn aqueous solution of alcohol typically prepared by distilling wine.
• arabic numeralA number represented using an Indian and Arabic system involving the symbols 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, and 0, representing digits.
• aseityThe attribute of being entirely self-derived, in contrast to being derived from or dependent on another; the quality of having within oneself the entire reason for one's being; utter independent self-existence and self-sustenance.
• attaintureA state of being found guilty of an offence.
• autarchyA condition of absolute power.
• Azoarasura (chapter of the Qurʾān)
• balliumSynonym of bailey (“fortification”).
• bannimusA permanent, publicly promulgated expulsion from the University of Oxford, whose public posting served to prevent the expelled person from claiming the cause of expulsion was unknown.
• barge boardA board fastened to the projecting gables of a roof to protect and hide other timbers.
• BarlaamA legendary saint in the tale of Barlaam and Josaphat.
• biblicBiblical.
• bombinateto buzz or hum; to speak idly, vacuously, or to little effect.
• bombinatorA person who speaks or makes noise to no effect, as a flattering toady or empty orator.
• boracicRelating to, or impregnated with borax.
• bordariusSynonym of bordar (“person ranking below villeins and above serfs”).
• bovateSynonym of oxgang.
• brunneousOf a dark brown colour.
• bullariumSynonym of bullary (“a collection of papal bulls”).
• caladriusA mythical bird that had healing powers.
• calefactorywarming
• CampineA chicken of a breed originating from the aforementioned region.
• carneolCarnelian.
• carrucaA heavy wheeled turnplough that was used during the Middle Ages.
• carrusA load: various English units of weight or volume based upon standardized cartloads of certain commodities.
• carucateThe notional area of land able to be farmed in a year by a team of 8 oxen pulling a carruca plow, usually reckoned at 120 acres.
• castellanyThe office of a castellan, the lordship of a castle.
• castellatecastle-like: built or shaped like a castle.
• cathedraticpromulgated ex cathedra; authoritative.
• catholicateThe jurisdiction of an Armenian catholicos.
• catholicosateThe jurisdiction of a catholicos.
• causateThe effect of a cause.
• censitary(of an elective franchise, especially in the nineteenth century) dependent on or proportional to a poll tax (cense) or property qualification; restricted.
• ChlotharA male given name from Frankish, of historical usage, notably borne by various Frankish kings.
• ChramnA male given name from Frankish, of historical usage, notably borne by Chramn, a Merovingian prince.
• chrismonA Christogram.
• ciboriumA fixed vaulted canopy over a Christian altar, supported on four columns.
• cimeliaTreasures; things considered valuable.
• circumgyrateTo move around something.
• circumlocutoryCharacterised by circumlocution; overly wordy
• civilistOne who studies or works with the civil law.
• collectarySynonym of collectarium.
• composition feeA payment of amends or to acquire a certain privilege, (universities) a tuition fee.
• compurgatorA character witness in canon law who swore an oath that the accused was innocent.
• connotateTo connote; to suggest or designate (something) as additional or representative; to imply.
• consuetudinaryA ritual book containing the forms and ceremonies used in the services of a particular monastery, cathedral or religious order.
• conventualPertaining to a convent or convent life; cloistered, monastic.
• corresponsivejointly or mutually responsive: exchanging
• count palatineThe ruler of a county palatine.
• cranio-Forms terms relating to the cranium (skull).
• CumanA member of a nomadic Turkic people of central Asia who ruled parts of Eurasia and Eastern Europe in the Middle Ages.
• custos rotulorumThe main justice of the peace in a given county of England, Wales or Ireland.
• DanicSynonym of Danish.
• dapiferThe servant that brings the meat to the table at a meal.
• debellationThe act of conquering or subjugation in war.
• decanateFace, one of three parts into which each zodiac sign is divided; a decan.
• decenaryOf or related to the number ten, (particularly) as a base of numeration.
• decennaryDecennial: of or related to a ten-year period.
• decrepitateTo roast (a salt or mineral) until it stops crackling in the fire.
• defalcateTo misappropriate funds; to embezzle.
• defalcationThe act of cancelling part of a claim by deducting a smaller claim which the claimant owes to the defendant.
• deiformGodlike.
• depatriateTo withdraw, or cause to withdraw, from one's country; to banish or expatriate.
• desecateTo cut, as with a scythe; to mow.
• desert islandA deserted island, an uninhabited island, especially one in the tropics and (now frequently misunderstood as) a small and almost entirely sandy desert.
• designableCapable of being designed.
• desinentialconsisting of desinences or grammatical endings; terminal
• devastavitWaste or misapplication of the assets of a deceased person by an executor or administrator; devastation.
• disculpateTo free from blame or the imputation of a fault; to exonerate.
• dissimilateTo make dissimilar or unlike.
• doctorandA postgraduate aiming to receive a doctorate; a Ph.D. student.
• DonatistOne of a group of Christians in fourth-century North Africa who broke away as a group after opposing the appointment of Caecilianus as Bishop of Carthage, and who disputed the validity of baptisms performed by others.
• draconcopedesA legendary being with a human head, and sometimes also human arms and a torso, and the rest of the body of a snake.
• drengA kind of feudal free tenant with military duties, mentioned in the Domesday Book.
• dura materThe tough and inflexible outermost of the three layers of the meninges, enveloping the brain and spinal cord.
• e caudataUsed in Latin for a long ē that represents an etymological ⟨ae⟩ or ⟨oe⟩ diphthong, both of which diphthongs had phonologically merged into ⟨ē⟩ by the early Mediaeval period.
• edulcorateTo sweeten.
• elusionThe act of eluding.
• emblicThe fruit of Emblica officinalis (now Phyllanthus emblica, the Indian gooseberry, once used as a remedy against dysentery)
• embrocateTo rub (a diseased part) with a moistened or liquid substance, usually an oil, on a cloth or sponge.
• embryonEmbryonic.
• emphracticHaving the quality of closing the pores of the skin.
• equiparateTo perform equiparation; to transfer attributes from one object or concept to another.
• equiparationThe transfer or imputation of attributes from one object or concept to another; the drawing of an equivalence between them.
• ÉtampesA commune in Essonne department, Île-de-France, France.
• etymologiconA book of etymologies.
• EugubineOf or relating to Gubbio.
• eulogiaThe practice of sending the consecrated Eucharist to those not present, or the Eucharist itself so sent.
• eulogiumA eulogy.
• Europa reginaThe map-like depiction of the European continent as a queen, made popular in the 16th century.
• ExonianOf or pertaining to Exeter.
• exorcistateThe minor order of exorcists.
• extravagateTo rove.
• farseA vernacular paraphrase inserted into Latin liturgy.
• favorizeTo favor especially or unduly.
• foldstoolA folding stool or collapsible seat.
• foraneOnly used in vicar forane and vicariate forane.
• fortaliceA small fortress.
• Friar MinorSynonym of Franciscan: a member of the Order of the Friars Minor.